An incoming Labour government would appoint a Global Envoy for Religious Freedom, says Douglas Alexander.

You don’t need to be a practising Christian to understand the enduring power of the Christmas story. The idea that hope emerges in unexpected places, amongst powerless people, is what gives the Nativity narrative its magical quality.

Yet as Mary and Joseph were turned away because there was no room at the inn, today there seems to be no room for the faith that began with that stable birth.

2014 has been dominated by headlines of violent persecution that shine a light on the period of darkness that has descended on people of the Christian faith across the world.

As the UK we are rightly part of an international coalition confronting Isil. Yet hard power alone will never be sufficient to defeat the forces at work globally.

In Nigeria, where Boko Haram is abducting Christian women and condemning them to a life of sexual slavery, to Isil controlled territory in Syria and Iraq, where forced conversions are often a tragic precursor to a violent and brutal death. In Sudan, where Meriam Ibrahim’s story moved millions across the world, shocked at her plight, shackled to the floor while heavily pregnant, guilty of nothing more than wanting to protect her own, while still defending her faith.

It is simply wrong for any faith to be persecuted. According to the International Society for Human Rights, Christians are the victims of 80 per cent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today.

In the face of persecution on this scale, neither ignorance not fear of offence can be an excuse for standing by on the other side in silence. That is why a year ago I warned against a misplaced sense of political correctness that had meant too many British politicians had forsaken speaking out against the evil that is anti-Christian persecution. Political correctness can never be an excuse for ignoring the cry of the suffering.

Yet, at this time of great peril, I deeply regret that the British Government seems to be stepping back, rather than stepping up.

Baroness Warsi admitted that this Government started off “from a very low base” when it came to faith issues, because – in her words – talking about faith was considered to be “either naïve or stupid”.

When she assumed lead responsibility for both human rights and faith, reporting directly to the Foreign Secretary, the leadership she showed and the seriousness with which she took her responsibilities was widely recognised.

Yet when she resigned last summer, her role of Minister or Faith was given up by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – and is now downgraded to simply a role within the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This was a mistake, and a retrograde step, and the Foreign Secretary should have intervened personally to prevent it. Labour would correct this, and would bring Ministerial responsibility for faith issues back inside the Foreign Office.

Other governments are showing stronger leadership. The United States and Canada have both appointed international ambassadors for tackling Religious Persecution. The UK, having fallen behind, should now follow suit.

So an incoming Labour government will appoint a Global Envoy for Religious Freedom, reporting directly to the Foreign Secretary. This is an issue beyond party politics, so if the Government takes this step sooner, as the Opposition, we will support them. There is no time to waste.

The voice of Government is vital and the work of politicians remains key, but this Christmas the leadership that is most evident is coming from within the religious community itself.

From pulpits and pews, to town halls and community centres, church groups and Christian leaders are rejecting politicians’ vows of silence, and instead are seeking to translate prayers for peace into action for justice.

Faith leaders beyond the Christian community have been forceful in their campaigns on anti-Christian persecution, including former Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks who described it as “one of the crimes against humanity of our time” and stated he was “appalled at the lack of protest it has evoked”.

Just like anti-Semitism or Islamaphobia, anti-Christian persecution must be named for the evil that it is, and challenged systematically by people of faith and of no faith.

Government should be doing much more to try and harness the concern, expertise and understanding of faith leaders from across the UK and beyond.

A multi-faith advisory council on religious freedom should be established within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Supporting the newly appointed Global Envoy, this will help ensure a strong focus within the Foreign Office.

In this 21st Century we should be supporting the building of societies that respect human rights and the rule of law, and make clear that freedom of religion or belief is a universal concern.

My own denomination, the Church of Scotland, says that “to stand clearly on the side of justice, it is necessary to advocate religious freedom for all”.

If we fail to act now, we risk putting all religious faiths and the freedoms that go with them under threat as never before.

Source: The Telegraph